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2020 Bidding Announcement for New Research Projects of the Innovation Program of the Academy of Marxism

Notices & Announcements

In accordance with the "Implementation Measures for the Bidding of Innovation Program Research Projects of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences" (Shekekeyanzi 〔2012〕 No. 16) and the spirit of relevant documents, and as determined by the leadership of the Institute of Marxism Studies (IMS), the 2020 IMS Innovation Program newly established research projects are now open for public bidding to IMS researchers. The relevant matters are hereby announced as follows:

I. Bidding Unit Institute of Marxism Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (hereinafter referred to as IMS)

II. Target of Bidding Registered, in-post research personnel of IMS.

III. General Requirements for Bidding Work Hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics; take Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as guidance; deeply implement the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the CPC and the Second, Third, and Fourth Plenary Sessions of the 19th Central Committee [1]; and continuously implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech at the Symposium on Philosophy and Social Sciences and his three congratulatory letters to CASS. Strengthen the "Four Consciousnesses" [2], firm up the "Four Confidences" [3], and achieve the "Two Upholds."

Focus on producing top-tier results and preeminent talents, taking major theoretical and practical issues of concern to the Party, the state, and the people as the main direction of attack. Strive to launch high-quality results that deeply research and explain the basic principles of Marxism, the history of Marxist development, the latest achievements of the Sinicization of Marxism, and world socialism. Cultivate high-level Marxist talents, continuously develop contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism, and serve the accelerated construction of the "Three Systems" [4] of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics. Serve the overall work of the Party and the state, and serve the consolidation of the guiding position of Marxism and the prosperity and development of philosophy and social sciences.

IV. Number of Projects, Topics, and Requirements The 2020 IMS Innovation Program intends to establish 4 new research projects. The bidding project topics and requirements are as follows:

Project 1: Research on the Basic Principles of Marxism and Their Contemporary Value Requirements: Emphasize holistic characteristics, continuously promote the construction and innovation of the disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system, and provide a comprehensive Marxist theoretical foundation for building an all-round, all-field, and all-element philosophy and social sciences system. Requirements for results:

  1. Propose a logical framework for the holistic study of Marxism that can be generally recognized by the academic community, and draft a textbook that reflects the requirements of Marxist holism: Advanced Course in the Basic Principles of Marxism, making it a landmark achievement in the discipline of the basic principles of Marxism.
  2. Organize the drafting of the "Research Series on the Basic Principles of Marxism," including Research on the Principles of Marxism, Research on the Principles of Leninism, Research on Mao Zedong Thought, and Research on the Principles of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, etc.
  3. Conduct research on the contemporary value of Marxist classics and publish a series of results to guide Party and government cadres in studying Marxist classics and serve as an important reference for researchers in applying the basic principles of Marxism.

Project 2: Research on the History of Marxist Development Requirements: Research on the history of Marxist development is a key scientific research project for IMS in the next 3 to 5 years, dedicated to launching a CASS edition of the multi-volume History of Marxist Development, so that this research can lead the nation. This research must highlight the research characteristics of CASS, emphasizing academic rigor, theoretical depth, and practical relevance. Simultaneously, it must targetedly strengthen research on currently relatively weak areas such as regional history, specialized history, thematic history, and biographical history, forming representative and major research achievements. Through the research process, cultivate a group of outstanding talents in the history of Marxist development.

Project 3: Research on the Scientific System of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Requirements: Deeply research and explain the original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to the history of Marxist development; deeply research and explain the scientific system, rich connotations, spiritual essence, significant importance, and practical requirements of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Be adept at transforming political language into academic language, focus on holistic and systematic research, work hard on the breadth and depth of research, and strive to launch academic classics and brand-name achievements in the research and explanation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

Project 4: Research on Contemporary World Marxist and Socialist Trends of Thought Requirements: Focus on discussions regarding the developmental stages, trends, and prospects of world socialism; new discussions on major issues in the history of the international communist movement; deep-level research on the causes and lessons of the upheavals in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe; research on new dynamics in socialist trends of thought and schools; research on new situations in the reform and construction of existing socialist countries; new developments and changes in foreign communist parties and radical left-wing parties; series tracking research on new progress in foreign left-wing alliances; and new reflections on capitalist issues in the era of globalization and the developmental trends and patterns of the "two systems" [5], etc. Regarding results, launch several monographs and translations on contemporary world Marxism and left-wing thought, and simultaneously launch the latest tracking research results on the world socialist movement and trends of thought annually.

For the above four projects, emphasis should be placed on leveraging collective strength and building "brand teams." The number of Chief Experts for each project is not limited to one, but there may be a maximum of three.

V. Bidding Qualification Requirements

  1. Bidders should comply with the relevant provisions of Article 24 of the "Measures for the Employment of Innovation Posts in Research Units of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Innovation Program" (Shekerenzi 〔2013〕 No. 59). Specifically: (1) Meet the basic conditions for access to innovation posts at CASS; (2) Have significant influence in the academic community, with academic levels at the international forefront or domestic leading position, and serve as an academic leader in a certain discipline or research direction; (3) Hold professional and technical titles at Level 5 or above, possess good academic ethics, excellent scientific research performance, and a sense of pioneering innovation; (4) Possess strong organizational and coordination skills, having served (or currently serving) as a Director of a Research Office or above, or having presided over major national or Academy-level scientific research projects as the main person in charge, and having completed projects with high quality according to plan, receiving high academic appraisal.
  2. Persons in charge of ongoing IMS-level Innovation Program research projects may not participate in this bidding as Chief Experts.
  3. A Chief Expert may only bid for one project.

VI. Bidding Project Requirements

  1. Bidders must bid according to the topics released in this announcement; self-designed topics will not be accepted.
  2. All project types are Category A (large-scale disciplinary foundation-building projects), with a research cycle of 5–8 years.
  3. Expected research results should not pursue winning by quantity; the focus lies on ensuring quality and academic standards to produce refined and masterpiece works.

VII. Bidding Discipline Requirements Bidders should promote a fine academic style of rigor, pragmatism, innovation, and integrity, consciously adhere to the principle of fair competition, and strictly abide by national and CASS management regulations. Any acts of fraud, plagiarism, or violation of rules and discipline will, once verified, result in the cancellation of evaluation qualifications and be reported to the IMS Party Committee and Discipline Inspection Committee for handling.

VIII. Specific Time Arrangement

  1. Bidders should fill out the "Bidding Form for Innovation Program Projects (Research Category) of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Institutes" (see attachment) and send the electronic version to the Scientific Research Department email: kyc_myy@cass.org.cn no later than February 13, 2020. Overdue submissions will not be accepted.
  2. As the pneumonia epidemic [6] has not yet ended, no defense meetings will be held; the bidding forms will be emailed to the IMS Academic Committee, and members will conduct evaluations via email. Projects approved by the Academic Committee will be established.
  3. Chief Experts of winning projects must also participate in the 2020 IMS Innovation Program post competition.

Attachment: Bidding Form for Innovation Program Projects (Research Category) of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Institutes

Scientific Research Department of IMS February 7, 2020